November 2023 Greenstar
Growing Ethical, Accountable Government from the Grassroots
GREEN STAR contributor Patrick O. McNally posed several questions to Alex Noyle, Green Party candidate for Auditor of East Norriton Township, Montgomery County.
GS, Please give us an idea of what went into your decision to run for elected office.
Noyle: First and foremost, I am running to increase the accountability of my local government. Without our campaign on the ballot, the only option East Norriton voters would have to audit the township is a member of one of the parties currently in power. I don’t think the parties who run the township should be their own financial watchdog. I am also running to grow my local Green Party chapter’s active membership by making contact with existing registered Greens who don’t currently show up to meetings, and by registering non-voters to participate for the first time. Another goal I have with this campaign is to grow the number of elected officials GPUS has to bolster our movement nationally, from the bottom-up.
GS, Did you get inspiration from the Green Party's Ten Key Values?
Noyle: In my experience on the campaign trail over the years, many people are Greens already, but they just don’t realize it yet! That was certainly true for me prior to joining the Green Party in 2016. The Ten Key Values are a moral compass that I always try to apply to my everyday life. “Future Focus” connects with me most of all. The question in front of us is not just wha
PA Green News
Edited by Chris Robinson
March in NY City to End Fossil Fuels
By Alex Casper (they/them)
On Sunday, September 17, 75,000 people marched across New York City to End Fossil Fuels. Two Green Party candidates seeking the nomination for President of the U.S. were in New York marching as VIP’s, and I was lucky enough to have my photo taken next to them.
Candidates Jasmine Sherman and Dr. Cornel West both met up with Green Party members at the beginning of the march. Dr. West said his presence at the march was to fuse with other voices. “This march is all about voices in solidarity to push out the fossil fuel industry and to break the back of the corporate duopoly . . . .”
Next year I hope more folks will join me and more Pennsylvania chapters can be represented in the March to End Fossil Fuels . . . . This is about our ability to afford to live in our communities we have always called home. This is about our ability to drink clean water, and have a warm home in the winter when we get old. This is about our ability to leave our communities and commute to work in the future. This is about our ability to maintain any kind of system where you and I can survive and thrive. We have to make drastic changes. That is why I marched in New York. That is why I hope you will march with me next year.
Mozambican Liberation Day and Green Party Ecological Wisdom
Belinda Davis, chair of the Green Party of Philadelphia, spoke at Philadelphia City Hall during the flag-raising of the Mozambique flag on September 25, 2023. The event took place on the 59th Mozambican National Liberation Day.
By Belinda Davis (she or they)
I am truly honored to be speaking to you today, among such distinguished guests. In the name of the Green Party of Philadelphia (www.gpop.org), I want to welcome the ambassador of Mozambique, members of the consulate, and the other dignitaries who have come to join in this flag-raising. We know the green in the flag stands for the gifts of nature and living in harmony with it, and that is what we too are about, as Greens. We are here in the interests of friendship and building on that friendship in peace and justice. I have been asked to talk briefly about Ecological Wisdom, one of the Green Party’s four pillars...
I believe, as an historian as well as chair of the Green Party of Philadelphia, that it is especially important for those in the U.S. and the global north generally to recognize the historical and the ongoing ecological damage rendered out of all proportion in the global south, including and even especially in Mozambique. Friends don't let friends contend alone with destructive droughts and related fires. Friends don't cause friends to confront catastrophic floods and cyclones, with their devastating immediate and also cumulative effects...
GPPA State Committee meeting in Philadelphia
The GPPA State Committee met on September 24 with an agenda calling for discussion of:
1) A proposal for Pa & NJ to host a joint [2024 Annual] National Meeting in Philly or Camden,
2) A GPPA Presidential Primary possibly in March 2024 and support for 2023 local Green candidates,
3) Amending GPPA Bylaws section 2 (b) regarding wider participation of Greens from counties without recognized chapters,
4) Discussion of the type of new GPPA platform from different models, and
5) Discussion of 2023/2024 Goals for the GPPA. Progress.
Unfortunately, there were no proposals for delegates to consider on any of the above discussion points.
GPPA Co-Chair Jeremy R. Griffin told GREEN STAR, “We had a great hybrid State Committee in Philadelphia. Over 30 people in attendance including the members who logged in on zoom. Super excited to move forward as a collective State Committee and to continue to build out county chapters. At the meeting we decided to continue our 2023 goals and roll them over to 2024. We also discussed the election of Alex Noyle in Montgomery County.
The State Committee did not vote on changing the section 2 (b) of our bylaws. This means that as of right now delegates are only elected from county chapters residing in said county. I have been (and will be) reaching out to active greens outside of county chapters to discuss how we can make sure their voices are heard.
“We heard from Co-Chair Barry Bendar of the Green Party of NJ. We decided not to move forward for an GPUS Annual National Meeting collaboration for 2024. Special thanks to Belinda Davis and the Green Party of Philadelphia for helping organize such an amazing event at the Philadelphia Ethical Society for our State Committee meeting.”
Campaign Updates
Edited by Chris Robinson
Below are three Green Party candidates who will appear on the 2023 General Election. Green Party candidates who plan to run in 2024 are welcome to contact GREEN STAR at [email protected].
2023 Election, November 7
Michael Bagdes-Canning for Re-Election to Mayor of Cherry Valley Borough
Butler County
Tara Yaney for Re-Election to Edgewood Borough Council
Allegheny County
Alex Noyle for Election to Auditor of East Norriton Township
Montgomery County
Team Reports
Edited by Patrick O. McNally
Communication Team by Chris Robinson and David Ochmanowicz Jr.
The Communication Team has published eleven news releases during the first nine months of 2023. They have been written by Jocolyn Bowser-Bostick (Delaware), Alex Casper (Philadelphia), Jeremy Griffin (Delaware), Bill “Jonesy” Jones (Allegheny), Riley Mahon (Allegheny), Patrick McNally (Delaware), Tina Olson (Northampton), Chris Robinson (Philadelphia) and Beth Scroggin (Chester). If you would like to join us and share your thoughts, please contact [email protected]
Please join the Communication Team right here.
www.gpofpa.org/team_communications_join
Green Wave Team by Theron Gilliland, Jr.
The team is currently in the thick of planning in detail the processes, deadlines and requirements for the 2024 GPPA primary.
The team has taken a tentative list of dates for the 2024 GPPA primary process as a starting point, which will be adjusted as needed, with the idea that it's better to get started sooner rather than later and make improvements as we go. The dates will be shared with the GPPA State Committee delegates for their review and amendments toward the end of October, and voted on at the November GPPA State Committee meeting.
We discussed some problems that Tim Runkle (Lancaster) had noticed in 2020. At the January 7, 2024, GPPA State Committee meeting we intend to announce the deadlines for the Nominating Committee to replace or select electors and delegates to the 2024 GPUS Presidential Nominating Convention. At that time we would also announce the responsibilities associated with each role, including whether or not electors will be responsible for having their own documents notarized.
The 2024 GPUS Presidential Nominating Convention (PNC) was discussed, namely that there have been no amendable proposals sent to the GPUS Annual Nation Meeting committee. It was decided that the GPPA State Committee would need to discuss if or how they could assist people who would be required to travel to an in-person meeting. It was not known if electors and delegates could apply to GPUS for a scholarship for travel, etc. It was also not known with certainty that the PNC would have an in-person option at all.
The Team also discussed reaching out to a few well-known Greens to ask if they were interested in running as a presidential candidate in the Green Party, to broaden the pool of candidates.
Please join the Green Wave Team right here.
www.gpofpa.org/team_greenwave_join
Core Team by Theron Gilliland, Jr.
The next Team meeting will be on Tuesday, November 9, at 7:00-8:30 p.m. We hope to discuss making improvements to the organization of our data in order to improve outreach. This effort will be led by Alex Casper (Philadelphia). We did not have a Core Team meeting in October, as there was so much Green Wave and local work going on. To RSVP for our next meeting, please visit: https://www.gpofpa.org/gppa_core_20231109
Please join the Core Team right here.
https://www.gpofpa.org/team_core_join
National Green News
Edited by David Ochmanowicz Jr.
Green Party condemns attacks on civilians in Israel and Gaza; calls for immediate ceasefire
The Green Party of the United States condemns the targeted attacks on civilians in the recent wave of violence in Gaza and Israel. We call for an immediate ceasefire, an immediate end to the invasion and occupation of Gaza, and a halt to all military and foreign aid to Israel. We urge our government to join with the U.N. to secure Israel's complete withdrawal to, at least, the 1967 boundaries in compliance with international law.
SCOTUS Declines to hear Libertarian and Green Parties’ case
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a decision to deny the writ of certiorari petition for an appeal brought by the Libertarian Party of New York and the Green Party of New York, concluding their legal battle over New York State’s ballot access thresholds. The petition, which was filed on March 13, 2023, sought to challenge the increase in ballot access requirements implemented in 2020.
Challenging Discrimination This Hispanic Heritage Month
Each year when Hispanic Heritage Month rolls around Sept 15 to Oct.15 we have the opportunity to spotlight and celebrate the many cultures that make up the Hispanic, or Latino, or Latinx community, (All terms for us that we are not universally in agreement with using. ¿Que sera, sera?). Certainly, we have a lot to celebrate, our varied and diverse communities all contain a richness of heritage, community, and vibrant culture that is reflected in the arts that we create, our traditional crafts, the music that we make, our passionate and joyful dance, and the delicious and varied traditional foods that we produce.
As with all the months that are set aside to honor a specific group, this came about at least in part to allay the injustices that each group has endured and continues to endure in our society. Along with the celebrations must come an examination of how the U.S. has, to a significant extent, systematically relegated us to being second-class citizens.
There's No Freedom In Silence: Stand Up, Speak Out!
The Missouri Green Party recently hosted a webinar that called for solidarity with the African People's Socialist Partyagainst the military-style FBI attacks, economic sanctions, and bogus charges of being "Russian agents." Discussions included how the Uhuru Movement is being targeted by the U.S. government, why it is imperative that the Green Party and other freedom-loving people defend the right to free speech of all those persecuted, from the "Uhuru 3" to Cop-City protesters and Julian Assange – and how we can take action in this historic fight.
Global Green News
Edited by Hal Brown
Green Party calls for immediate ceasefire to end civilian deaths in Israel-Gaza conflict
Carne Ross, Green Party spokesperson said, “The UK must join international calls for an immediate ceasefire. At the same time, there must be immediate access for humanitarian assistance to the civilian population and the resumption of water, fuel and food supplies.”
Enviromentalists call on EU Member States to ban Glyphosate
European MP Saskia Bricmont (Ecolo.) said, “It is imperative that member states choose to protect the health of their citizens rather than the interests of a few agro-industry multinationals.” READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Europe Ecologie les Verts launches its Ecologists Movement
In February, a few months after her election as head of the [the Europe Ecologie Les Verts (EELV) ecologist party], Marine Tondelier launched the Estates General of Ecology to bring together “the people of ecology” and lay the foundations of a “great movement of ecology policy .“ READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Five steps the Green Party needs to take towards Racial Justice
Candidates Ria Patel and Kelsey Trevett said in a position paper, “The Green Party [of England] is not racially diverse enough. We have policies for the creation of a society with racial justice at its core, but our local parties are not reflective of the local communities they seek to serve and represent. If the Green Party is to truly champion racial, social, economic, and environmental justice through the development and delivery of our policies, we need to do a much better job internally. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
GPPA Meeting Date for 2023
All State Web Conferences will begin promptly at noon.
Sunday, November 12, via Zoom.
GPPA Communications Team Issue Credits
Editors: Hal Brown, Patrick O. McNally, David Ochmanowicz, Jr. and Chris Robinson
Contributors: Alex Casper (they/them), Belinda Davis (she/they), Theron Gilliland Jr (he/him), Jeremy R. Griffin, Patrick O. McNally and Alex Noyle
Layout: Hal Brown, Sherri Miller, and David Ochmanowicz Jr.
Graphic Arts: Kevin Richardson
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